Liquid dispenser for clothes washers and the like



July 1955 K. A. EDWARDS ET AL LIQUID DISPENSER FOR CLOTHES WASHERS ANDTHE LIKE Filed Oct. 22, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l ITwvent-ors: KeithAflclwards, William R Buechler, b MM;

5 Their Attorfiey.

y 1955 K. A. EDWARDS ET AL 2,712,748

LIQUID DISPENSER FOR CLOTHES WASHERS AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 22, 1952 2Sheets-Sheet 2 U 6 F 5. /4\ W Inventors: Keith A. Edwards, William RBuechle Their Attorney.

LIQUID DISPENSER FUR CLOTHES WASHERS AND TEE LIKE Keith A. Edwards,Schenectady, N. Y., and William R. Buechier, Louisville, Ky assignors toGeneral Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application Gctoher22, 1952, Serial No. 316,274 11 Claims. (1. 68-17) The present inventionhas to do primarily with automatic clothes washing machines and the likeand has for its object to provide improved means for supplying to such amachine during one or more of its washing opera tions along with thecleansing liquid a suitable or desired washing agent. is intended toinclude water or other washing or cleansing liquid and the term washingagent is intended to include any liquid sanitizing or germicidal agent,a liquid detergent or other liquid substance or liquid solution which itis desired to supply to the machine along with the cleansing liquid.

According to the invention cleansing liquid is supplied to the machinethrough an aspirator, the cleansing liquid serving as a pumping liquidor vacuum for the aspirator, and the washing agent is pumped into themachine by the aspirator; and in with there is provided means forcontrolling the aspirator whereby when cleansing liquid is flowingthrough it, a washing agent may or may not be pumped as found desirable.For example, in the case of a clothes washing machine, it may bedesirable to supply a sanitizing or germicidal agent to the machinealong with the rinse water in which case the aspirator would be madeeffective to pump such agent to the machine when rinse water is beingsupplied to it but not at other times.

For a consideration of what we believe to be novel and our inventionattention is directed to the following specifications and to the claimsappended thereto.

In the drawing, Fig. l is a side elevation partly in section of aclothes tion; Fig. 2 is a top plan view with parts broken view taken online 33, Fig. taken on line 44, Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig.2 of a modification; Fig. 7 is a detailed sectional view taken on line77, Fig. 6, and Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating the operation of themodification shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

Referring to the drawing, a clothes washing machine of known type isshown in outline in Fig. 1, it being a machine of the single tub spinbasket type. It comprises an outer casing 1, a tub 2, a spin basket 3and an agitator 4. Mechanism including an electric motor for oscillatingthe to the machine is indicated at The structure so far described isshown only by way of example. It is to be taken as typical of anysuitable clothes washing machine.

According to our invention we supply cleansing liquid from a source ofsuitable pressure to the machine through an aspirator which serves topump into the machine along with the cleansing liquid a suitable Washingagent. aspirator comprises a tapered nozzle 10, the discharge The termcleansing liquid as used herein producing liquid 7 washing machineembodying the invenend of which is positioned in the inlet end of spout7. In the inlet end of nozzle 10 is a cleansing liquid supply pipe Hwhich discharges liquid through nozzle 10 and spout 7 to spin basket 3.The supply pipe 11 may con- Container 12 is provided with a filling andvent opening 14.

For controlling the operation of the aspirator, there is provided inaspirator tube 13, an air bleed opening 15 15, then the aspirator willfunction to pump washing agent.

In connection with the aspirator, the upstream side of opening 14 asregards the direction of flow of cleansing liquid an inwardly projectinglip 10 which points angularly downstream as shown clearly in there isprovided on risk of washing liquid leaking or flowing downwardly throughpipe 13 into the container for the cleansing agent.

In connection with the aspirator, it should also be noted that it is anopen type, the end of pipe 11 which conducts the cleansing liquid intothe aspirator conduit 10 if a vacuum were created in pipe 11, only airwould be drawn into pipe 11, not the washing agent, and no contaminationof the plumbing by the washing agent could take place.

Valve 15 may be moved manually in the case of a manually controlledclothes washing machine or it may be moved automatically in the case ofan automatically controlled machine. However, the invention isespecially useful and applicable to an automatic clothes washingmachine.

In carrying out our invention in connection with an automatic clotheswashing machine, there is provided for operating valve 16 means forms apart of the automatic control system, the arrangeor desired Washingoperation, valve 16 will beclcsed so as to supply washing agent alongtherewith, while when such supply valve or valves are opened to supplycleansing liquid only for other'washing'operations, valve 16' will beopen. For example, the arrangement may be such that washing agent issuppliedonly when cleansing liquid is-supplied'rora rinsing. operation.

For automatically closing and opening valve 16, its stem is connectedtothe free end of a coiled. bimetal strip 17, the other end of whichismounted on a fixed support 18'. Mounted adiacentto the bimetal stripfor heating it is=a heating element here shown in the form of anelectriclamp-l9. The arrangement is'such that normally when the:bimetal strip'iscold, it holds valve 16 open. When heated it flcxes toward the left asshown in. Fig. 4 to-close the-valve. The control is such that during anycleansing liquid supply period when it is desired to supplya'washing'agentto the machine along with the cleansing liquid, thecircuit of. lamp 1) is closed to effect the closing of valve 16;Referring to the wiring diagram in Fig. 5, 20 indicates a solenoidoperated cleansing liquid supply valve in pipe 11' and 21 indicates atiming motor driven automatic control timer which controls the circuitsfor operating valve 20 and the washing machine motor indicated at 22. At23 is a timer operated switch which is closed to efiect the opening ofvalve 29 and at 24 is a timer operated switch which is closed to effectoperation of valvelo by closing a circuit on heater lamp; 1?. Thesource:of electrical supply is indicated at 25, the main control switch at 26and circuits leading-.;to motor 22 for other machine operations areindicated at 27; if desired a manually operated-switch 28 located on themachine for convenient operation may be connected in the heater: unitcircuit so that the heater may be disconnected from the controller ifthe operator wishes not to supply washing agent when usingthe machine.

This showing isdiagrammatic, only connections sufficient foranunderstanding of the invention being shown. Whenever timer switch 23 isclosed valve 20 will be opened to supply cleansing liquid to the.machine but thewashing agent control valve 16'will be. closed only atsuch times as timer switch 24 is closed also to close the circuiton'heater lamp 19.

In Figs. 6, 7 and 8.-is-shown a modified arrangement for controlling"the. aspirator. In this modification in advance of the. aspiratoropening 30 (corresponding. to aspirator opening 14 of Figs. 1 to 4) asregards the flow of cleansing-liquid; there is provided a deflector 31inthe form of a wire which is connectedto a bimetal strip 32. and by itadapted to bernoved'downtinto and upoutof the path of fiow of cleansingliquid from the. supply pipe. 33 which-corresponds to-supplypipe ll ofFigs. 1 to 4 inclusive. Otherwise, the arrangement may bethe. sameaszthat shownin Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive and correspondingreierencecharacters have been applied to correspondingparts. When deflector wire31- stands in the path of fiowof cleansing liquid from pipe. 33, theflow is. causedtodivide and pass to each side of the aspirator. openingasillustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 8. As a result, no washing.agent'will be fed from tank 14to the infiowing stream. However, whenbimetal 32 is heated to move deflector wire 31 upward out of the pathor" the flowing stream then the liquid will flow over the aspiratoropening, efiecting the feeding of wash ingagent into the stream ofcleansing liquid.

Ey'our i vention we eiiect the feeding of a washing agent to a clotheswashing machine in an efiicient manner and by the use of mechanism whichis simple in structure and reliable in operation; and in addition bymechanism which can be supplied at low cost and readily fitted into anautomatic control system.

What we claim and desire to secure by of the United States is:

l1 In: a clothes washing machine or the like having Letters Patent apipe for supplying cleansing liquid to the machine,

aspirator for feeding a liquid washing agent to the machine along withthe cleansing liquid comprising a nozzle into which the discharge end ofthe cleansing 5' liquid pipe projects and through which it dischargescleansing liquid to the machine, a container for a washing agent, anaspirator tube connecting said container to said nozzle through anaspirator opening in said nozzle located at a point beyond the end ofsaid pipe as regards the direction or r'iow through it, movable meansfor rendering said aspirator opening efiective and ineffective to drawup washing agent from the container to the nozzle, control means for theclothes washing machine, and means connected with said washing machinecontrol means for actuating said movable means.

1.. in a clothes washing machine or the like of the type having acontrol means and a pipe for supplying cleansing liquid to the machine,an aspirator for drawa liquid washing agent into' the machine along with29 the. cleansing liquid comprising a nozzle into'which the dischargeend of the liquid supply pipe projects and.

thrc-r h which it discharges cleansing: liquid to the ch s, a containerfor washing agent, an aspirator sue 'on tube connecting said containerto said nozzle point beyond'the end of said ipe as regards the directi 1of flow through it, said aspirator tube bein proth an air bleed hole, avalve for blocking flow ir through said air bleed hole, means foroperating a lve, and means connected with the control means foractuating said valve operating means.

3. in a clothes washing machine of the type having a timer forcontrolling automatically washingoperations including the supplying ofcleansing liquidv to the ma.- chine, means for supplyingia washing agentalong with cleansing liquid comp-rising an aspirator nozzle throughwhich cleansing liquid flows to the machine, said aspirator nozzlehaving an aspirator opening past which cleansing liquid flows forproducing a suction, a liquid washing agent container, an aspirator tubewhich con nects the container to said opening and. through which liquidwashing agent may be. drawn up, valveimeans for controlling the suctionofv said aspirator, and means actuated by said timer for operating saidvalve means.

4. In a clothes washing machine of the type having a timer forcontrolling automatically washing operations including the supplyingoticleansing liquid to the. machine, means for supplying a washingagentalong with cleansing liquid comprising an aspirator' nozzle throughwhich cleansing liquid flows to the machine, said' aspirator nozzlehaving an aspirator. opening past which cleansing liquid flows, a liquidwashing: agent container, an aspirator tube which connects the containerto said opening, movable means connected with said aspirator forrendering effective and ineftectiveiilow of cleansingiliquid past saidaspirator opening to producev suction for the feeding of washing agentfrom said container, and means controlled by said timer. for operatingsaid movable means.

5. in a clothes washing machine'of the type having'a timer forcontrollingautomatically washing operations including the supplying ofcleansing liquid to the machine, means for supplyingawashing agent alongwith cleansing liquid comprising an aspirator nozzle through whichcleansing liquid flows to the machine, said'aspirator nozzle having anaspirator opening, pastwhich cleansing liquid flows to produce asuction, a washing agentcontainer, an aspirator suction tube whichvconnects the con tainer to said opening, said tube being provided withan air bleed opening, a valve controlling said air bleed opening, andmeans controlled by said timer for operating said valve.

6. In a clothes washing machine of the. type having a timer forcontrollingv automatically washing operations including the supplyingofcleansingliquid to the machine, means for supplying a-washing agentalong with through an aspirator opening in said nozzle located at.

cleansing liquid comprising an aspirator nozzle through which cleansingliquid flows to the machine, said aspirator nozzle having an aspiratoropening past which cleansing liquid flows to produce a suction, awashing agent container, an aspirator suction tube which connects thecontainer to said opening, a movable member which stands in the path offlow of cleansing liquid past said aspirator opening for etfecting flowof cleansing liquid over said opening to produce suction or away from itto eliminate the suction, and means controlled by said timer foroperating said movable member.

7. in a clothes washing machine, an aspirator comprising a nozzlethrough which cleansing liquid is supplied to the machine, said nozzlehaving an aspirator opening past which the cleansing liquid flows, acontainer for a washing agent, an aspirator suction tube which connectssaid container to said aspirator opening, and movable means forrendering fiow of cleansing liquid through said tube selectivelyeflective and ineffective for producing suction to draw washing agentthrough said aspirator pipe.

8. In a clothes washing machine, an aspirator compris ing a nozzlethrough which cleansing liquid is supplied to the machine, said nozzlehaving an aspirator opening past which the cleansing liquid flows, acontainer for a washing agent, an aspirator suction tube which connectssaid container to said aspirator opening, movable means for renderingelfective and ineffective flow of cleansing liquid through said tube toeffect the pumping of washing agent through said aspirator pipe, and aprojecting lip on the up stream side of said aspirator opening whichpoints angularly down stream for deflecting liquid flow past theopening.

9. In a clothes washing machine, an aspirator comprising a nozzleextending in a generally horizontal direction through which cleansingliquid is supplied to the machine, said nozzle having an aspiratoropening in a top portion thereof past which the cleansing liquid flows,a container for a washing agent, an aspirator suction tube whichconnects said container to said aspirator opening, said aspirator tubehaving an air bleed opening, a valve controlling said opening, andmovable means for operating said valve.

10. In a clothes washing machine, an aspirator comprising a nozzlethrough which cleansing liquid is supplied to the machine, said nozzlehaving an aspirator opening past which the cleansing liquid flows, acontainer for a washing agent, an aspirator suction tube which connectssaid container to said aspirator opening, a deflector movable into andout of the path of flow of cleansing liquid past said aspirator openingfor rendering ineffective and effective suction of washing agent throughsaid tube, and means for moving said deflector.

11. In a clothes washing machine of the type having a timer forcontrolling automatically washing operations inciuding the supplying ofcleansing liquid to the machine, means for supplying a washing agentalong with cleansing liquid comprising an aspirator nozzle through whichcleansing liquid flows to the machine, said aspirator nozzle having anaspirator opening past which cleansing liquid flows to produce asuction, a washing agent container, an aspirator suction tube whichconnects the container to said opening, movable means connected withsaid aspirator for rendering efiective and inefiective flow of cleansingliquid past said aspirator opening to effect the suction of washingagent from said container, a bimetal strip connected to said movablemeans for moving it, an electric heater for said bimetal strip, and aheater circuit for said heater which is controlled by said timer.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

